Ruto’s Govt Finally Clears Air On Reducing Birth Certificate Application Fees From Ksh200 To Ksh50

The government has ruled out reducing birth certificate application fees from Ksh200 to the previous Ksh50, despite growing public pressure and concerns raised by Members of Parliament over the increased cost of accessing the vital document.

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration maintained that the revised charges would remain in force, arguing that the increase was justified by inflation, rising production costs and improved security features on the documents.

The position was communicated to the National Assembly through a statement read by Administration and Internal Security Committee Chairperson Gabriel Tongoyo.

Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang explained that the previous Ksh50 fee had remained unchanged since 1998, making it necessary to review the charges to reflect changes in the economy.

According to Kipsang, the current Ksh200 charge is comparable to the purchasing power of the previous fee when adjusted for inflation.

He further defended the revised charges by comparing Kenya’s fees with those imposed in neighbouring countries. The ministry cited Tanzania, where a birth certificate costs approximately Ksh320, and Uganda, where applicants pay about Ksh180.

Zambia was also mentioned, with replacement charges ranging between Ksh1,100 and Ksh1,600.

The government increased the standard birth certificate application fee from Ksh50 to Ksh200 in November 2024, triggering complaints from Kenyans who argued that the document should remain affordable.

The review also affected other services offered by the registration department.

Late birth registration now costs Ksh500, up from Ksh350, while replacing a lost birth certificate attracts a Ksh1,000 charge compared to the previous Ksh90.

Applicants seeking amendments to information on their birth certificates also face a higher fee of Ksh1,000, up from Ksh130.

Kipsang further attributed the increased charges to the rising cost of materials used to produce the documents, noting that improved security features had necessitated the use of higher-quality materials.

Despite public calls for a reversal, the ministry confirmed that it had no plans to restore the previous charges, meaning Kenyans will continue paying the revised rates.

https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/129105-govt-rules-out-reducing-ksh200-birth-certificate-application-fee-despite-uproar

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